Purpose Power Opening date Early 2017 Catchment area 201 km² Operator Ceylon Electricity Board | Status Under construction Type of dam Gravity dam Construction cost 82 million USD Construction began 17 July 2013 | |
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Similar Maskeliya Dam, Bowatenna Dam, Laxapana Dam, Kukule Ganga Dam, Rambakan Oya Dam | ||
The Broadlands Dam (also known as the Broadlands Hydropower Project by the developers) is a 35 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric complex currently under construction in Kitulgala, Sri Lanka. The project is expected to be completed in late 2017, and will consist of two dams, and a power station further downstream.
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Map of Broadlands Dam, Sri Lanka
With an estimated annual generation capacity of 126 GWh, the facility will be the country's last major hydroelectric project, due to the exhaustion of island-wide hydropower potential. Construction of the project was ceremonially inaugurated by the Minister of Power and Energy Mrs. Pavithra Wanniarachchi at the auspicious time of 11:01 on 17 July 2013.
Approximately 85% of the US$82 million project funding was met via credit arrangements made with the Chinese government, with the rest borne via a loan from the local Hatton National Bank. The construction contract of the project was granted to the China National Electric Equipment Corporation (CNEEC).
Dams and reservoirs
The primary gravity dam measuring 24 m (79 ft) in height and 114 m (374 ft) in length is being constructed across the Maskeliya Oya at Kitulgala, and will supply water to the power station via a 3,404.7 m (11,170.3 ft) penstock measuring 5.4 m (17.7 ft) in diameter.
A secondary gravity weir measuring 19 m (62 ft) and 48 m (157 ft) in height and length, is also to be built in the vicinity, over the nearby Kehelgamu Oya, to provide additional hydroelectric capacity. The weir, to be called the Kehelgamu Weir, will create a catchment area of 176 km2 (68 sq mi), and will provide additional head to the penstock of the main dam via a 811 m (2,661 ft) tunnel.
The penstock from the main dam will feed a power station consisting of two 3-phase synchronous turbines, each of 17.5 MW and a rated discharge of 32 m3 (1,130 cu ft) per second.